video;

[loyal_to_death]

[ The feed shows a dark room, the only things visible being a lamp and Johann's mask, both resting on a desk. After a moment, his hands appear as well as he begins to work on the mask's inside with a screwdriver. ]

Is there any way to be considered a legal adult here? Back at home brother and I were given lots of facilities because we had no one to take of such things for us.

[ More like everyone was too scared of their mother to say otherwise. ]

But here... I'm not sure. And I would really like to not be bothered with things like school--

[ There's a spark, and he quickly removes his hand. ]

Oh, damn.

Comments

video;

[glowsferatu]

If such a method exists, I should like to be made aware of it. I'm not opposed to continuing my educational attendance, but adult humans continually treating me in the manner they would a wiggler is considerably frustrating.

Though it is possible for one to adopt one of theirs in the role of a guardian, should legality require it.

video;

[loyal_to_death]

It's very unfair to hold non-humans to our-- their standards.

[ A beat. ]

I would rather not owe anyone such a favor, though. Of being a guardian to me.

video;

[glowsferatu]

I suppose this may be a correlation with your typical familial connection with your direct genetic forebears. Though our culture would also have submitted any individual lacking their assigned guardian to regulative culling, so your methods may be kinder.

Personally, the only adult with legal authority on my behalf is the keeper of our hive, but it was more at his insistence than my need, so I suppose I can't invest too great a concern in its existence.

[ nah but she's genuinely pretty fond of ron, despite how she makes it sound. he's a decent guy. ]

video;

[loyal_to_death]

That sounds a little bit... extreme. Culling. For something that can be solved.

You mean that your kind isn't raised by their genetic parents, then?

video;

[glowsferatu]

Many of our practices would be considered extreme from a human standpoint, yes. There are some exceptions where one's lusus would be unavailable temporarily due to the circumstances of their own life cycles, but this is generally related to your continued care rather than some failure due to negligence. All moot now, anyway.

But no, our direct ancestors existed far in the distant past of our timeline. Thousands of sweeps, even. My own mother was a literal Mother Grub, though she abdicated that role to serve as my lusus.

video;

[loyal_to_death]

So you are brought to the world by these Mother Grubs, and then taken care of by a lusus. Did I get it right?

video;

[glowsferatu]

Essentially, yes. Of course, there is cocooning and and the trials in between, but that isn't important.

Is there a reason you're opposed to schoolfeeding?

voice;

[baddaboom]

What, so you can start worryin' about death and taxes? Already?

video;

[loyal_to_death]

Death can come at any age, it doesn't happen only to adults.

voice;

[baddaboom]

Geeze, you never heard of a saying, or somethin'? It's not like I made it up, or anything!

[conflagrations]

You gotta turn eighteen. Or twenty-one. Or do a lot of paperwork. Why not just not go to school?

[loyal_to_death]

Paperwork won't take two years. Or five.

I have never liked school, and I will like it even less without anyone I know with me.

[conflagrations]

Paperwork takes forever, but I meant like, you need to turn eighteen or whatever.

But you can just not go. That's probably way easier.

[loyal_to_death]

I am sixteen. So two years. Or five.

I won't get called out for it? Not going to school?

[conflagrations]

Not if you don't tell everyone you're not going. I mean, I did and now everyone's on me about it. But you can just like, casually not go.

voice

[tinybutdeadly]

Um, my friend Vivi was able to be legally recognized as an adult. I'll have to ask him how he did it.

[loyal_to_death]

It would be very helpful if you did.

[tinybutdeadly]

I will. I think he had some adult vouch for him and all kinds of things. It took awhile.

[loyal_to_death]

I... definitely don't have an adult to do that for me.

[tinybutdeadly]

I'll bug Vivi about it and ask him to get in touch with you.

[loyal_to_death]

Do thank him in advance for his trouble.

[kickpushbaby]

School's no big, just don't go.

[loyal_to_death]

I don't want to but... I was under the impression that it's some kind of obligation?

[kickpushbaby]

Nah, it's just reading and stuff. If you've got important shit to do, you should do that first.

[loyal_to_death]

So you don't go either?

[kickpushbaby]

Well, not here. Unless they got some weird alternate dimension system, it outta be summer break, but I'd go back home sometimes.

[futureleader]

Don't go to school, they'll brainwash you and turn you into victims.

You're technically considered an adult when you're eighteen, but, hey! Who's keeping track of ages?

[loyal_to_death]

Oh, I meant besides age.

You can get brainwashed pretty much anywhere, though. Unless you mean it more literally.

[futureleader]

Some cultures have different customs. You know? Kill a bear with only your hands and you become a lady, swim in the arctic and you become a man, all sorts of rituals and rites into the passage of adulthood. But if you want legality from the man it's all about age.

I meant literally of course.

[loyal_to_death]

So they literally brainwash you at school.

That sounds more interesting that everything else I've been told.

[futureleader]

It's the truth!

[loyal_to_death]

I never called you a liar. I just said it was interesting.

voice;

[hexappeal]

Emancipation. But I believe you have to be sixteen.

I'd say your best bet is to find an adult who doesn't care to become your legal guardian.

[loyal_to_death]

I'm a little over sixteen so emancipation will probably do.

[hexappeal]

I can't say if it'll work or not, but I know that plenty of kids have gotten by without school.